Geva Theatre Center is presenting an
absolutely thrilling production of Charles Randolph-Wright and Nona Hendryx’s Blue,
an oddity, but a brilliant one. Randolph-Wright’s script is so loaded with
genuine comedy and human emotions that I’m sorry to note that it is also
predictable and often trite, like a sitcom. But I don’t care. If it isn’t a
fine drama or exactly a chamber musical, it is a musical drama showcasing much
artistry, and an undeniable audience-pleaser.
           Blue‘s plot is
both about and underscored by the wonderful jazz music that Ms. Hendryx
(one-third of the group LaBelle with Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash) composed
with Randolph-Wright’s lyrics and overall plan. The music is recorded, but the
songs are sung live by Kevyn Morrow who plays the fictional great singer Blue
Williams. Geva sells CDs of the music.
           We
focus on the elegant interior of Samuel Clark, Jr.’s house. Obviously wealthy,
the Clarks are the only African-Americans to own a funeral home in fictional
Kent, South Carolina. Designer Marjorie Smith Bradley’s astonishingly rich,
inventive scenic designs not only impress, but also characterize the family’s
wealth, pretensions, emphasis on modern art and music, and — as the play
progresses — changing tastes.
           Similarly,
Susan E. Mickey’s delicious costumes show us both how admirable and how tacky
the dress and attitudes of these characters can get. Without naming them all,
let’s just say that this production, niftily directed by Kenny Leon, has
enlisted an artistic staff of super-pros, whose work is expectedly superb in
all categories.
           Ditto
the great-looking cast, who look like models chosen for their roles when the
plot has this family making the cover of Ebony magazine. Peter Jay Fernandez plays Samuel Clark, Jr. as an admirably aware
family head who deals with his wife’s controlling nature and role-playing out
of love, and adjusts to his life’s restrictions and disappointments out of
practicality.
           Denise
Burse (actually Mr. Fernandez’s wife) is quite wonderful as Samuel’s wife
Peggy, a beautiful former model, a clotheshorse and fashion maven, who pretends
that she cooks the meals she orders from foreign-cuisine restaurants. Peggy
instructs her family on how to dress, behave, and appreciate the arts. And she
is obsessed with the career and music of recording star Blue.
           Her
sons are variously rebellious or obedient. Actor Rashad J. Anthony skillfully
develops Samuel Clark III from a sullen bad boy to a conforming, successful
heir, both personas oversexed and resentful underneath. Young Darnell Smith,
Jr. gives physically vivacious movement and contrasting portrayals to young
Reuben and later Baby Blue, a look-alike son of LaTonya, Sam III’s former
girlfriend.
           First
as a loud, tasteless girl and later as Peggy’s sad protégé, Tinase Kajese is
impressive as LaTonya. Yusef Miller plays the older Reuben, who has to go
through a revealing and often amusing series of changes in hair, clothes, and
general demeanor as he follows, then resists his mother’s control.
           Brenda
Thomas plays Sam Jr.’s mother Tillie Clark with a good deal of sarcastic humor
and eventually is allowed to display a native dignity.
           And
then there’s Blue. We hear about him as an idolized musician and as someone who
has clearly had some personal influence on this family. We see actor Kevyn
Morrow pantomiming Blue Williams whenever he is mentioned or his records are
supposedly played. And we hear him sing not only songs whose lyrics comment on
the play but also music that indicates Blue’s growth in styles and influences
over the years. Morrow doesn’t speak a word until the play is almost over, but
he doesn’t need to.
           Worth
noting is that in a 1999 review of Thunder
Knocking on the Door at Geva I wrote that Mr. Morrow “seems young and sexy
enough to belie his veteran credits, including seven Broadway shows.” Now add
an Olivier nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Ragtime in London.
           But
as Thunder, I found Peter Jay Fernandez, who has a non-musical role as the
father here, dominating the show and “singing superbly” and noted that
“Fernandez plays a mean harmonica.” This show really has a knockout company all
down the line.
Blue,by Charles Randolph-Wright, music by Nona
Hendryx, directed by Kenny Leon, plays at Geva
Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Boulevard, Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m.,
Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., through May
16. Tix: $13 to $47.50 232-4382,
www.gevatheatre.org.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2004.
